Partnership for patient care marks BioWales 2017

Cardiff University is joining forces with one of the UK’s leading independent Medical Research Institutes to translate research into patient care.

University scientists will develop new treatments, technologies and techniques with the charity-based Northwick Park Institute for Medical Research (NPIMR).

They will develop pre-clinical medical research across areas including medical device technologies, regenerative medicine and tissue engineering.

The partnership is being announced ahead of BioWales 2017 on 7-8 March. It follows the announcement of a clinical innovation partnership with Cardiff and Vale University Hospital Board at the 2016 BioWales event.

Initial projects with NPIMR, based in Harrow, will focus on work at Cardiff University’s Welsh Institute for Minimal Access Therapy and the Welsh Wound Innovation Centre.

Professor Keith Harding, University Dean of Clinical Innovation, said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with NPIMR. The Institute is widely recognised for its work to improve outcomes and maximise benefits for patients and the wider NHS..."

Cardiff’s WIMAT has already worked closely with NPIMR, based in Harrow, Middlesex. Together they developed UltraVision™ - the multi-award-winning laparoscopic smoke clearing device, invented in Cardiff and commercialised by Alesi Surgical Limited.

Professor Paul Sibbons, Director of NPIMR said: "Two new joint projects in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering have already been identified and we expect to start work on them shortly.”

Both organisations cemented their partnership by signing a Memorandum of Understanding.

The agreement has been developed by members of the Cardiff University and Cardiff & Vale University Health Board Clinical Innovation Multidisciplinary Team.

The Board and Cardiff University have a track record of working together to deliver innovation. The 2016 Clinical Innovation Partnership is aimed at delivering better patient healthcare and wealth creation in Wales by accelerating the translation of clinical innovation into improvements in health and clinical services.